Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We just bought our first chameleon, a female veiled who is still pretty young (only a couple months). When we brought her home, she was very friendly and didn't mind coming out of the cage at all. However, since then, she has become very aggressive and impossible to get out of the cage -- she gets very dark and sometimes with black stripes or dots, hisses and opens her mouth at us and slinks out of the way.

Any explanation for this change in behavior? We've had her for over two weeks now. Is it just stress? She is eating just fine, voraciously even, and the temperatures and humidity are in accordance with everything I have read. Help?? Thanks.

Welcome to the world of Chameleons. As everyone here will tell you, and as I know from experience...this is the norm. These are not meant to be "social" animals, especially veiled chams. It has taken almost 7 months for my male veiled to try to eat out of my fingers...if (and usually when) he misses, he goes right back to hissing at me.

I know that there are some breeds that aren't as agressive, but the veiled seem to be the most.

Let her chill, and enjoy from a distance!

1st pic...My female veiled who I lost in January (2 1/2 years old). She was never agressive.

2nd pic...My male veiled (8 mos old now). He hisses at me when I walk by!

Good luck!
Kris

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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
2.0 Horses Smoothie and Rocky
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor (congrats c/o 2006), Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

Thank you for the response -- in a way it is a relief to hear that we aren't necessarily doing anything wrong.

Chams are very individual too. She may just be a touchy girl. It could be she's starting to feel some hormones (females can mature sooner than you think) and is also starting to feel territorial in her new home. So, she'll resent you intruding. Teach her that you are still a source of treats and that your activity can be predictable so she won't stress when you are around. Check to see if she can see other animals or any reflections of herself around the cage area too.

Kris i agree with you!

Chameleons arent like a puppy. They dont want to be your friend at all. They dont want to cuddle or be smothered with affection. Chameleons are the Mariyln Manson (good music though) of reptiles. They hate everything and everyone. Its nothing you did nor is it anything you can really change.

In fact no reptile likes being held. Its not fun for them. It may seem fun and interesting to you, but to them its another trip to the dentist. No one likes the dentist!

Just try and get used to it. Learn to observe her habits. Her likes and her dislikes. But right now, i say let her do her thing. It isnt hurting her.
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Six feet deep is the incision
In my heart, that barless prison
Discolours all with tunnel vision
Sunsetter
Nymphetamine
Sick and weak from my condition
This lust, a vampyric addiction
To her alone in full submission
None better
Nymphetamine
Cradle of Filth: Nymphetamine)